The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2010-11
REGULATE: NPDES WASTEWATER |
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| GROUP: |
GENERAL NPDES FACILITIES |
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| MEASURE: |
NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS
NUMBER OF FACILITIES INSPECTED |
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| MESSAGE: |
Approximately 16% of the facilities regulated under NPDES general permits were inspected by the Regional Boards. |
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| Key Statistics for FY 2010-11 |
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| Number of Active Facilities | 1,359 | | Number of Inspections | 244 | | Number of Facilities Inspected | 222 | |
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MEASUREMENTS
| Region | Facilities | Inspections | Facilities Inspected | Percentage Facilities Inspected |
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| 1 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 47% | | 2 | 204 | 2 | 2 | 1% | | 3 | 71 | 5 | 5 | 7% | | 4 | 445 | 74 | 73 | 16% | | 5 | 199 | 13 | 12 | 6% | | 6 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 25% | | 7 | 39 | 14 | 12 | 31% | | 8 | 295 | 122 | 105 | 36% | | 9 | 75 | 2 | 2 | 3% | | TOTAL | 1,359 | 244 | 222 | 16% |
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WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING
The data show that facilities actively enrolled under a general permit are not inspected as frequently as individually regulated facilities. Statewide 16% of these facilities received an inspection. Almost 80% of the inspections were carried out by two Regional Boards.
WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT
Inspections are a primary tool used in determining and documenting compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and waste discharge requirements. Facilities regulated under a general permit have a lower threat to water quality and therefore the recommended inspection frequency is lower than that of individually regulated facilities.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
GLOSSARY
- General Permit
- An NPDES permit issued under 40 CFR 122.28 that authorizes a category of discharges within a geographical area. A general permit is not specifically tailored for an individual discharger.
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
- The NPDES permit program (Section 402 of the Clean Water Act ) controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. US EPA has approved the Water Board’s program to issue NPDES permits.
